Ford dealership changes hands
By Jesse Phelps

2003 may be remembered as the year many long-time Ojai landmarks changed hands.

Ojai Valley Bank merged with Mid-State, Azu encompassed Bill Baker's Bakery and Ruben's No. 2 moved, making way for a second Jim and Rob's Fresh Grill. In the latest in the series of sell-offs, Bronk Vreeland Ojai Ford will come under new ownership at the end of the month.

Current partner Dick Bronk confirmed the business has been bought by two brothers, Mark and Ernie Johnston, and said that escrow will close on July 31.

Bronk originally bought the dealership, which has stood in the same spot since 1955, on April 13, 1990. He said he had no plans to sell.

However, when the Johnston brothers contacted him recently, everything fell into place. "They called out of the blue and we told them what we would sell it for and they agreed on the numbers," he said. "We didn't have it for sale. It was unsolicited." Bronk did not want to disclose the selling price but said that it includes the real estate where the dealership stands and the business itself.

Bronk said that Mark Johnston, who currently lives in West Hills, will move to Ojai "to be part of the community" while Ernie will continue to operate the brothers' other business, another dealership in Santa Monica.

Bronk said that under the new owners, some things are likely to be different. A revamped and improved service department and the addition of some used imports could headline the changes.
"Mark's background is that he was a mechanic when he first started out in the auto business," said Bronk. "He's got some ideas to change some things in the service department. They were high-line used car dealers so they're thinking about bringing in used imports to sell along with the rest of the Ford products."

Meanwhile, Bronk says he isn't quite ready to drive off into the sunset. "I'm going to continue on and work for them as a general manager," he said. "I'm too young to retire. I just won't have an ownership interest. I just turned 57 yesterday. I don't have any interest in playing golf every day."

Bronk's partner, Jim Vreeland, was out of town and unable to answer questions, but Bronk said he'll likely focus on his other Ford dealership in Buellton.

Or, perhaps, the two will open another lot somewhere else. But not in Ojai, said Bronk. "We're kind of up in the air. We may do something in another location. Eventually I want to retire to Lake Havasu, so I may do something in Arizona," he said. "But nothing has been set in stone. We'll kind of see what kind of happens from here."

Bronk says that, because everything happened so quickly, he's still figuring out exactly what he wants to do in the long run. "It happened just before Easter, when we got the offer, so it took us kinda by surprise. That's why we don't have any firm plans," he said.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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